Monday, November 9, 2009

Cricket as an educator in India

Cricket is by far the most followed game in India. While watching the game last week, I realised how much learning can and is imbibed (though unintentionally).

When the game is well balanced, the whole nation is busy dividing numbers by six, substracting numbers, finding the number of ways to get to a certain sum in atmost certain number of variables - which are constrained by being non-negative and less than equal to 6. Even problems like assigning weights to different players and devising ways to maximise the rewards (runs) in a set of discreet steps.

Other than improving our mathematical skills, It is also responsible for improving our language skills. It accustoms us to "foreign" accent. (Who does not like to enjoy Geoffrey Boycott describe events in his wonderful style) Besides, there is our own homegrown Navjot Singh Sidhu - with his wonderfully crafted one-liners, He has added more of the creative imagination to the Indian masses than any other single source.

Cricket in itself adds to one and a half of the three R's (Read, wRite, aRithmetic). It helps people come up with things to say - hence the half of writing. Maybe its time government introduced cricket watching and playing programs in its schools. It will both help kids learn and keep them interested in school.

PS - The idea for this post came to me when I was talking to my friend Abhishek Gandhi.

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3 comments:

Oval said...

How much more of Cricket do you want? It's already the most promoted sport in India. Doesn't matter if the government promotes it or not.

And moreover, thoda enjoy bhi kar le...yahaan bhi number crunching!!!lagta hai placement ki zyada tayaari chal rahi hai! :P

Ankit Ashok said...

A high initial value is not a reason to not do something if increase is beneficial.

Abe enjoy hi kar raha hoon, ye to dimag mein aa gaya to likh diya..

Ankit Ashok said...

Hi Alena

Welcome to my blog.
I checked your blog. Nice work that you guys are doing. Best of luck for the road ahead.

Ankit